Culture

5 gorgeous women whose unconventional beauty is taking the world by storm

Role models on a roll

By
Elle Team February 19, 2018

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The world is full of unconventional beauty, whether it meets your standards of what's gorgeous or not. Luckily for us, there is a new — and ever-expanding — breed of gorgeous models on social media who understand that beauty can exist outside society's definition of it. These are the women who have taken their uniqueness and worn it as their strongest weapon, defining their own unconventional beauty as they know it to be true. And with the thousands of followers they've accumulated, we would have to say that most of the population of Instagram would agree with them. These ladies aren't just models, they're role models. Proof that if you love yourself and dare to be who you are the world will have no choice but to love you back.

5 social media stars whose unconventional beauty will inspire you

Winnie Harlow

Winnie Harlow got international recognition when America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks discovered her on Instagram and put her on the show. Harlow has a prominent form of vitiligo, but that hasn't stopped her from putting herself out there. After her ANTM appearance, she became the face of the brand Desigual. She's since walked for multiple fashion shows, and done a campaign for Diesel and Swarovski. Harlow has not only embraced her skin condition but also made it work for her, becoming a role model not only for people living with the skin condition but also for those with low self-esteem.

Khoudia Diop

The Senegalese model has christened herself the Melanin Goddess; one look at her ebony skin and there's no wondering why. Diop was teased as a child for being exceptionally dark-skinned but when she moved to Paris, she was repeatedly approached with suggestions that she try modelling thanks to her unconventional beauty. She shot to fame on Instagram after she moved to New York and was featured in a campaign for the Coloured Girl Project. Diop has received praise not only for being dark, but speaking out on how she learned to love her colour and accept it as part of who she is. She also did a campaign for cosmetics brand Make Up For Ever, showcasing their darkest shade of foundation, so that other women may find a shade for them that also works. Khoudia is a reminder that nude has a different interpretation for everyone.

Tsunaina

The Tibetan model was street scouted, but unlike conventional models, Tsunaina's height doesn't seem to be what got her on the runway at London Fashion Week. Instead, it was the unique structure of her nose. Her Avatar-like features, paired with her flawless skin, make her a photographer's dream. Tsunaina's Instagram images highlight her forehead as well as the broad structure of her nose along with the constellation of beauty spots across her face. Even if you're more inclined to conventional features, there's no denying that the her unconventional beauty is so interesting, it's captivating.

Sophia Hadjipanteli

The Instagram sensation knows that she could have been overlooked as just another pretty face in your feed, but she chose not to comply with societies norms and leave her unibrow as is. Her eyebrows seems virgin to tweezers or threading, and quite honestly, are the hero of her face and social media accounts. With each selfie she uploads, Sophie leaves the comment section under her pictures polarised, with some of her followers understanding that beauty can exist outside of society's stiff boundaries. "I think it's kind of bizarre that people who fill in their eyebrows, not that I'm hating on people that do at all, but they're annoyed when I don’t fill mine in and leave them as they are. We are both trying to achieve the same standard of beauty, but in a different ways," she says. "It upsets me that it’s frowned upon in one way and glorified in another." Hadjipanteli told a women's magazine.

Viktoria Modesta

The Latvian model made the decision to amputate her leg below the knee to better improve mobility and safeguard her future health. The unconventional beauty started modelling at the age of 15 and later went on to become a singer-songwriter and performance artist. That's right, aside from her talents, she herself is art. The model uses various structures as her missing appendage, turning her body into a true work of art. Viktoria doesn't let anything get in her way, she can be seen dancing, performing, working out and walking the ramp on her Instagram profile. What's your excuse?